Men need skin care too!
40% of my clients are male; they have thicker, oilier skin however many experience sensitivity, especially in the lower face and neck from shaving.
Here are some basic skin tips for men:
Shave as little as possible (many men can get away with shaving every other day, especially in San Francisco where “business casual” is the norm) or alternate your razor with an electric shaver. An electric shaver doesn’t give as close of a shave but is more gentle on the skin.
Shave after you shower. The steam from the shower relaxes the pores and the hair follicles making them more receptive to shaving.
Use a gentle shaving cream (Aveeno is good) or a face wash that doubles as a shaving lubricant (like IS Clinical Cleansing Complex).
Exfoliate your face 1-2 times a week. Use a gentle face scrub or an enzyme exfoliator. Exfoliation ensures dead skin cells are swept away before they have a chance to clog the pores which causes blackheads and exacerbates in-grown hairs.
Use a gentle lotion with SPF every day. No questions. Preventing sun damage is so much easier that reversing sun damage.
The same goes for eye cream; start using it before you think you need it, both morning and night.
Professional treatments help the texture and overall health of your skin. Cleansing Facials 4 times a year is a good place to start. Microdermabrasion is an option for men that want a more corrective treatment with little to no downtime.
Consistency is key: find a routine that fits your schedule and stick with it!